Casualties unknown

1993-08-21: Cessna 152 (N6596P) — Sawyer Aviation — Glendale, AZ

Glendale, AZ, US

On August 21, 1993, a Cessna 152 (registration N6596P) operated by Sawyer Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Glendale, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper flare during the second landing, which led to a hard landing, followed by overcorrection that caused the aircraft to porpoise three times and collapse the nose landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on his first supervised solo flight collapsed the nose landing gear after a hard landing and subsequent porpoising event during the second touchdown.

What happened

The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting his first supervised solo flight. During the approach for the second landing, the pilot executed an improper flare, resulting in a hard landing. Following this initial impact, the aircraft bounced off the runway surface.

In an attempt to correct the situation, the pilot overcorrected the control inputs. This action caused the airplane to porpoise three times in succession. The repeated vertical oscillations placed excessive stress on the airframe and landing gear system. Ultimately, the nose landing gear collapsed under the strain of these forces.

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare during the second landing, which led to a hard landing, followed by overcorrection that caused the aircraft to porpoise three times and collapse the nose landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X13183. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.